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Sunday, April 18, 2010

Many feel Canadiens coach Jacques Martin’s lack of challenging the officiating (seen here with Florida) could lead to the team’s playoff downfall.

Thought the officiating sucked and that Canadiens coach Jacques Martin needs to grow a set behind the bench? Well you’re not alone!

Usually I can let a bad call, or two slide in the regular season. When it comes to the playoffs, it’s time for the referees to sharpen their game and call a balanced game.

Saturday’s Game Two between the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals was clearly a demonstration of not doing that.

By the time the game ended in a 6-5 overtime win for the Capitals, Robert Lefebvre of Habs Eyes on The Prize was already on the attack, citing the officiating as a railroad job.

Not to be outdone, a fellow goalie and legal eagle (only he’s a lawyer, not me) HabsFanForever33 aka Panger (HFF33) from Four Habs Fans brings to light the Mike Knuble butt slam in the face of Jaroslav Halak

TSN’s Darren Pang was livid over what happened in front of Halak at the end of the second period, backing up the rule by breaking down the play. If I can get a video clip of this, I will add it.

West coast Habs blogger Dennis Kane weighed in with a quote from The Province’s Tony Gallagher. I added a link to Mr. Gallagher’s full article as well.

Earlier this morning, I received an email from Daniel Grosso who did an excellent job of breaking down the questionable and missed calls after the Canadiens built a 4-1 lead.

Daniel noted six separate questionable moments in the final 22 minutes. His full write up can be found here.

On the flip side, Topham from Lions in Winter made a valid comment to Daniel’s post, noting that there were questionable calls on both ends, but that the Canadiens coaching is also part of the issue:

Instead of an inquiry into the NHL officiating, I suggest an inquiry into Montreal coaching after this one.

NHL refs have reffed in this way for as long as I can remember, it's the important game syndrome. They seem to feel they don't want to end the game one way or the other because of a penalty, instead preferring to end the game one way with no calls.

Montreal has to understand this, and more importantly work in this framework.

Don't allow Halak to be pushed, push around Varlamov, hook, interfere, generally play to the rules being reffed rather than those in the book.

That said, where was Jacques Martin during these infractions? A former goalie himself, you’d thing he’d be up on the bench either yelling at the officials or at least trying to get an explanation.

He didn’t, simply because he doesn’t, and it cost him. He’s no Dick Irvin, Toe Blake, Pat Burns or John Tortarella on the emotional side, that’s for sure. You know, coaches that have won a Stanley Cup.

During Sundays’ media conference, Martin was confronted with the numerous times that Halak was pushed in front of his net.

His response was simply this, “I have faith that the officials will make the right calls.” Huh? That’s it?

Many feel that coaches and players are now afraid to comment or dispute a referees call without repercussions from the NHL or get the cold shoulder in future games.

In the comments on Robert’s post, I noted the NHL rulings on coaches comments that fall under Rules 40 and 75. You’ll find it below was well.

75.1 Unsportsmanlike Conduct – Players, goalkeepers and non-playing Club personnel are responsible for their conduct at all times and must endeavor to prevent disorderly conduct before, during or after the game, on or off the ice and any place in the rink. The Referees may assess penalties to any of the above team personnel for failure to do so. NOTE: When such conduct is directed at an official, Rule 40 – Abuse of Officials shall be applied.

75.3 Bench Minor Penalty – A bench minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be assessed under this rule for the following infractions: (i) When a player, goalkeeper, Coach or non-playing Club personnel throws any object onto the ice from the players’ or penalty bench (or from any other off-ice location) during the progress of the game or during a stoppage of play. (ii) Any unidentifiable player or goalkeeper, or any Coach or non-playing Club personnel uses obscene, profane or abusive language or gesture directed towards any person. (iii) Whenever Coaches and/or non-playing Club personnel uses obscene or profane language or gestures anywhere in the rink.

75.5 Game Misconduct Penalty – Game misconduct penalties shall be assessed under this rule for the following infractions:

(iii) Coaches and non-playing Club personnel who have previously been assessed a bench minor penalty for the use obscene or profane language or gestures anywhere in the rink. A confidential report to the Commissioner shall be completed and filed with the League for possible further disciplinary action.

(v) Any player, goalkeeper or non-playing Club personnel who directs obscene, profane or abusive language or gestures to any person after the expiration of the game. This action may occur on or off the ice.

Any player, goalkeeper or non-playing Club personnel penalized under this section may be subject to supplemental discipline under Rule 29.

Rule 40 – Abuse of Officials

40.1 General Description –A player, goalkeeper, Coach or non-playing person shall not challenge or dispute the rulings of an official before, during or after a game. A player, goalkeeper, Coach or non-playing person shall not display unsportsmanlike conduct including, but not limited to, obscene, profane or abusive language or gestures, comments of a personal nature intended to degrade an official, or persist in disputing a ruling after being told to stop or after being penalized for such behavior.

NOTE: When such conduct is directed at anyone other than an official, Rule 75 – Unsportsmanlike Conduct shall be applied.

40.3 Bench Minor Penalty – A bench minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be assessed under this rule for the following infractions:

(i) Any Coach or non-playing person who bangs the boards with a stick or other object at any time, showing disrespect for an official’s decision. If this is done in order to get the attention of the on-ice officials for a legitimate reason (i.e. serious injury, illness, etc.), then discretion must be exercised by the Referees.

(ii) Any unidentifiable player or goalkeeper, or any Coach or non-playing person who uses obscene, profane or abusive language or gesture directed at an on or off-ice official or uses the name of any official coupled with any vociferous remarks. (see also 40.5 (ii))

(i) Any player, goalkeeper, Coach, or non-playing person interferes in any manner with any game official including the Referees, Linesmen, Game or Penalty Timekeepers or Goal Judges in the performance of their duties.

40.5 Game Misconduct Penalty – Game misconduct penalties shall be assessed under this rule for the following infractions:

(ii) When a Coach or non-playing person uses obscene, profane or abusive language or gesture directed at any on or off-ice official or uses the name of any official coupled with any vociferous remarks, after already being assessed a bench minor penalty (40.3 (ii)), this Coach or non-playing person is to be assessed a game misconduct and the situation reported to the Commissioner for further action. When this type of conduct occurs after the expiration of the game, on or off the ice, the game misconduct shall be applied without the necessity of having been assessed a bench minor penalty previously.

(vi) Any player, goalkeeper, Coach or non-playing person who throws or shoots any equipment or other object in the general direction of an official but does not come close to making any contact. This action may occur on or off the ice.

Maybe coach Martin should re-read the rule book and realize it’s ok to yell at a ref, or question a call within reason.

Do it the right way and you earn the respect of the officials. Just don’t do it the wrong way and call him an a-hole or tell him to eat a donut!

A dubious distinction for AK46: Andre Kostitsyn became the 20th playerr for the Montreal Canadiens to record a hat-trick in the playoffs. Only problem is, he’s the first to do it when the Habs lost.